Food Processing Equipment
Food Processing Equipment is the term used to categorise all equipment used for processing food. It includes all food processing machines as well as the systems used to handle, prepare, cook, store, and package food & food products. It can includes new, used and second hand food processing equipment and beverage machinery.
Food Processing = combining a single or combination of food ingredients and processing them in a way that they become suitable for consumption (eating), cooking or storage.
There are basic forms of food processing through to more complex forms of food processing. Determined by:
- Type of ingredient(s).
- The Product
- How long it needs to last as in food preservation/food storage.
- Packaging
Food Preservation
Storing food requires preserving food also known as food preservation.
There are many different methods available for preserving and storing food.
Natural food preservation methods include canning, freezing, freeze drying, dehydrating and also fermenting.
There are also food preserving methods that require artificial chemicals & additives.
Food Processing
Food Manufacturing making and processing of food ingredients Processing is the basic processing of food.
Altering a food product from one form to another form as well as the food preservation & packaging techniques required. for a food product.
There are many different types of food processing equipment used in food manufacturing that are available to purchase.
For example if we look at apples.
There are many different products that can be made from apples including:
- Apple juice
- Fermenting apples into apple cider vinegar
- Dehydrating apples to make dried apple rings or apple chunks
- Freeze drying apples to make apple powder
- Apple paste or apple puree
- Apple jam, apple preserve, canned apples, chopped, diced, sliced etc.
All of these processors require food processing in one form or another to end up with the final required product.
New technological advances in food equipment have also provided many opportunities for food processing companies to introduce new product innovations to the market place.
Freeze drying technologies have enabled the development of freeze dried apples or even freeze dried apple powders.
Other technological advances have provided food businesses with new product development opportunities including: Instant foods, food oils, food supplements, dehydrated food products or ingredients to name just a few.
There are many different product examples available to food producers whether large scale or small due to the advances in modern food processing machinery.
Benefits
Can be used to transform a food or food product such as preserving a product by extending its shelf including:
Canning, fermenting, freezing, freeze drying, dehydrating.
Or enhancing a products taste, texture, palatability all of which can increase the saleability of a product .
Some types of processing equipment can also be used to increase digestibility, or even the absorption of a product as in liposomal vitamin supplements for the health & well-being industry.
Some pieces of food processing equipment can also be used to perform preliminary, additional or even supplementary functions, such as handling, sorting, preparation, and even packaging of food or food products.
This type of equipment is used across the full gamut of food & food product applications ranging from baked goods, beverages, through to dairy & produce.
There is a comprehensive range of processing equipment available for any food business whether large (be it a wholesale producer) or small (as in an artisan producer) to be able to execute all operations required to achieve the full production cycle of any food or food product.
Food Packaging
Whether it is washing, sorting, handling, mixing, baking, processing, chopping, slicing, drying, weighing, freezing, sealing, packing – all these functions & more can be performed by this type of food equipment.
Depending on the type of food or food product to be produced.
there is equipment available for dry, solid, semi solid & even liquid food products.
Irrespective of the type or size of food business, each & every food business requires this type of equipment:
- An independent baker may purchase smaller equipment
- An artisan producer may opt for small scale production with a smaller processing facility.
- A food production contract manufacturing plant, or a large or even industrial food processor will require a larger scale production line.
This is all dependent on the specifications and requirements of a particular food processing application.
The processing of a combination of food products.
Horizontal Flow-Wrap Packaging Machine
What is Food Processing?
Food Processing can be a simple of straight forward process.
It can include something as easy as taking fresh vanilla bean pods and dehydrating (drying) them to preserve them to sell them to customer.
Food Processing can be far more complex and require many more steps and processors.
Food processing equipment for making and distributing fresh ready made meals.
All raw ingredients have to be sourced, sorted and stored.
In this instance meals have to be:
- Planned
- Cooked
- Stored
- Packaged
- Labelled
- Distributed
Whilst always ensuring that the food is safe, convenient and nutritious for the end consumer.
Different Types of Food Processing Equipment:
Commercial Food Equipment including Food Processing Equipment and Packaging machines includes all food and beverage machinery used to make food and drinks products from raw materials and ingredients.
Used to perform a wide range of tasks from preparation and cooking through to packing and food preservation.
Common types of food processing equipment range from:
Mixers and Blenders:
Used to mix and combine all ingredients together. Frequently used to make dough, sauces and beverages.
Choppers and Cutters: This can include food processors, slicers, dicers. Often used for meat, vegetables and fruit.
Cookers and Ovens:
Ovens including: combi, steam, convection, rack and deck ovens. Equipment used for baking, frying, roasting and steaming food.
Heat Exchangers:
Heat Exchangers: Used for sterilisation processors like pasteurisation. Used to kill bacteria and extend the shelf life of ingredients and products like milk and cream products.
Canners and Sealers:
Canners and Sealers: Used to store food and beverages and extend its shelf life.
Dryers – Dehydrators:
Dryers: including dehydrators are:
- used to preserve food and extend its shelf life.
Examples can include meat dried into biltong or dried works and beef jerky.
Fresh herbs and spices dried into dried spice powders.
- Used to remove moisture from food.
- This prevents food from spoiling and perishing quickly and helps to extend its shelf life.
Homogenisers:
Homogenisers: Used to blend ingredients together to create a uniform consistency. Often used for dairy products including milk and cream products.
Extruders:
Extruders: extruding machines are used to form different shapes, sizes and textures of food products.
Commonly used for products like breakfast cereals and pasta products and snack food products.
Food Processing Equipment – Packaging Machines:
Packaging Machines: Food and beverage.
- Products require packaging for transportation and storage
- Helps to extend product shelf life
- There are many different types of packaging machinery. These can vary depending on the type of ingredients, products, and the application required. There are packing, filling, weighing and labelling machines.
Food Processing Equipment Filtration Systems:
Filtration Systems: used to filter products to remove impurities and contaminates.
- A well known example would be water.Water can be filtered by reverse osmosis
- to remove all contaminants including chemicals and heavy metals.
Cooling Systems:
Cooling Systems: This can include refrigeration and freezing solutions along with blast chilling solutions for food and beverage products and ingredients.
- Used to cool down products to prevent wastage and spoilage
- To keep food at safe temperatures for health and safety requirements.
Food processing equipment encompasses the machinery and tools used in the transformation of raw ingredients into finished food products. This equipment is essential for a wide range of tasks, from preparation and cooking to packaging and preservation.
Helping to ensure that specific food standards are adhered to and that the efficiency, safety and quality of the final food products are always achieved.
From product development and production all the way through to packaging.
Bakeries can use equipment like: ovens, a mixer, a bread slicer or more specialised equipment such as a Single Drop Depositor MR150 or require custom made bakery ingredient bins stainless steel – gas flush.
Commercial Food Equipment brands such as Sottoriva, Moffat. Paramount, Vemag, Handtmann, Delfin and many more.
Used Commercial Kitchen Equipment provide a range of services to small and large businesses selling a large range of used and second hand equipment Australia wide.